Yan Qingshan swung the rope again and landed outside the cave entrance.
After using the rope to haul out the Rock Snake’s carcass, he used a small knife to cut open its skull along the wound, obtaining a dim yellow crystal core.
“This Rock Snake isn’t bad; it actually formed a Monster Core.”
After stowing the Monster Core, he returned to the cave entrance once more.
The hidden entrance was covered in rubble, vines, and strange shrubs, obstructing most of the space and making it impossible to enter.
After testing again to ensure there was no danger, Yan Qingshan used his war blade to clear an opening and leaped into the grotto.
Deep within the grotto, Yan Qingshan thrust a torch into the side wall and scanned his surroundings.
Before long, he found himself beside a clay-yellow stone door.
He walked over and crouched down, feeling for a small protrusion.
With a slight press of his finger and a series of creaking sounds, the stone door gradually slid upward.
As the door rose, a faint glow emanated from within.
This was the light of Moonstones.
While not particularly bright, it was enough to dispel the surrounding darkness, meaning Yan Qingshan no longer needed his torch.
After tossing a few stones to ensure no traps were triggered and using the Rock Snake’s carcass as a shield, he cautiously stepped into the stone chamber.
The stone chamber appeared very simple and empty.
Moonstones used for illumination were embedded in the walls, and at the center of the room sat a chair.
Upon the chair sat a skeleton.
The pale skull was no longer in place but had fallen onto the thigh bones, facing the door in a grim and eerie manner.
In front of the skeleton stood a rather wide bluestone platform.
On the platform, three locked stone boxes were arranged neatly.
In the other three corners of the chamber lay piles of glittering gold coins and other precious treasures.
The sheer number of gold coins was staggering; a rough glance suggested no less than several hundred thousand.
Combined with other valuable jewelry, the total value was at least several million.
In another corner of the chamber, a small flowerbed had been built using precious medicinal soil, with various flowers and herbs planted within.
A strange fragrance lingered in the air.
These were high-grade herbs rarely found on the market; in terms of true value, these priceless herbs were the most precious of all.
The most valuable among them was a strange, two-colored herb at the center of the bed, appearing both white and red.
Its white stem was covered in dots resembling ice crystals, while its fiery-red crown looked as if a cluster of flames was burning upon it.
A faint mist swirled around the plant, giving it an ethereal appearance as if it were nestled among the clouds.
This spiritual herb, containing two diametrically opposed attributes, was called the Ice Spirit Blazing Grass—a truly top-tier medicinal ingredient.
Like the Blood Lotus Essence in Yan Qingshan’s possession, it was one of the primary materials for refining the 5th Tier Blood Lotus Pill.
Yan Qingshan did not let his gaze linger on the herbs or wealth for long.
Though precious, they were not what he needed most right now.
The thing he desired most was…
He turned his gaze toward the three locked stone boxes on the bluestone platform.
Yan Qingshan approached the master of this place and bowed respectfully before carefully taking three keys from the skeleton’s palm.
The master of this stone chamber was clearly a senior willing to leave opportunities for descendants, as there were no grueling tests involved, saving Yan Qingshan a great deal of trouble.
With the keys in hand, Yan Qingshan walked to the bluestone table and unlocked all the metal locks on the three stone boxes in turn.
As he opened them, the contents were revealed: the first box contained a multi-colored scroll, the second a black scroll, and the third a pale green scroll.
Yan Qingshan’s hand immediately reached for the third box.
‘Exactly as I expected.’
“Beep…
Unrecorded knowledge detected.
Recording and analysis beginning…
Creating a folder.”
“High Xuan Class Qi Method: Lion Heart King Qi Method.”
“High Xuan Class Dou Technique: Mad Lion’s Roar.”
“Low Xuan Class Dou Technique: Phoenix Flight Steps.”
“Dou Qi Cultivation Precautions.”
“Lion Heart King Secret Art.”
“Production Method for Xuan Class Flight Dou Technique.”
Yan Qingshan’s face was full of joy as Dawn rapidly recorded the information.
As he had suspected, this contained the most important inheritance of the chamber’s master.
In the original story, the third stone box from this chamber was taken by the Wolf Head Mercenary Group of Qingshan Town.
Later, the High Xuan Class Dou Technique, Mad Lion’s Roar, appeared in the hands of their leader, Mu She.
Although the original story did not mention the existence of a Qi Method, the master of this place clearly intended to leave an inheritance for future generations.
How could they leave behind Dou Techniques but forget the most crucial Dou Qi Method?
Many Dou Techniques can only reach their full potential when paired with the correct Qi Method.
Therefore, complementary Dou Techniques and cultivation methods are usually kept together.
The third stone box proved Yan Qingshan’s theory was correct.
A High Xuan Class Qi Method was almost the highest level of cultivation method one could find within the Jia Ma Empire.
As for Dou Qi Methods, even if the attributes aren’t a perfect match, one can still practice them; at most, the efficiency is slightly lower than a perfectly aligned attribute.
However, as long as it wasn’t a case of a Fire-attribute practitioner training in a Water-attribute method—a complete elemental conflict—the efficiency wouldn’t drop by much.
It would still be superior to a lower-class method of the same attribute.
In other words, unless he could find a Wood-attribute Qi Method at Mid Xuan Class or higher, this Lion Heart King Qi Method was his best choice for now.
Yan Qingshan calmed his emotions and picked up the Lion Heart King Qi Method scroll to contemplate it carefully.
‘High Xuan Class, Lion Heart Profound Qi, casting an unyielding Lion Heart, condensing the aura of a King, forming the visage of a Lion King.’
‘Mad Lion’s Roar, a High Xuan Class Dou Technique, containing two types of energy attacks: Dou Qi and sonic waves.
It is not restricted to weapons or unarmed combat and is famous for its fierce offensive power.
Once mastered, the two energies merge into one; a furious roar shatters the enemy’s courage, and the maddened lion destroys the body.
With the two energies combined, a single breath can stir the clouds, with power comparable to a Low Di Class Dou Technique.’
‘Phoenix Flight Steps, a Low Xuan Class movement Dou Technique.’
‘This Lion Heart King Qi Method is actually attribute-neutral.’
After carefully reading the introductions for the Lion Heart King Qi Method and the Mad Lion’s Roar, Yan Qingshan could not hide his joy, his heart leaping with excitement.
On the Dou Qi Continent, most high-level Qi Methods have attribute restrictions.
This means a method is most suitable for a specific attribute or was even tailor-made for it—much like the Number One Qi Method, the Flame Mantra, which is a Fire-attribute method.
These specific attribute methods naturally offer twice the result with half the effort for those with the correct constitution, but that doesn’t mean others can’t practice them.
Furthermore, the cultivated Dou Qi will not be as pure, making it difficult to push the method to its absolute limit or grasp its true essence.
In such cases, many core functions of the Qi Method simply cannot be used.
For example, if a non-Fire attribute person practices the Flame Mantra, they might not be able to use it to absorb Heavenly Flames at all, rendering it a mere Huang Class Qi Method in their hands.
In that case, what would be the use of practicing it?
Of course, besides these specific attribute Qi Methods, there is another category: attribute-neutral Qi Methods.
This means people of all constitutions can practice them.
However, these Qi Methods are generally more difficult to cultivate, and their power amplification might be slightly lower compared to a perfectly matched attribute Qi Method.
But for the current Yan Qingshan, this Lion Heart King Qi Method was absolutely invaluable.
Given his background and strength, without a lucky break, it would be impossible for him to obtain a Xuan Class Qi Method, let alone a High Xuan Class one.
This was something precious even for the top factions of the Jia Ma Empire.
Yan Qingshan could not suppress his inner excitement.
He sat cross-legged within the stone chamber and began to circulate his internal Dou Qi to convert his Qi Method route.
The High Xuan Class Qi Method was countless times more powerful than the Huang Class Qi Method he had been using as a backup.
His pale yellow Dou Qi was compressed and refined, turning into a vibrant green-cyan Dou Qi, and his aura became significantly more condensed.
After an unknown amount of time, Yan Qingshan slowly opened his eyes.
A flash of white light seemed to flicker within the chamber.
As he stood up, a light breeze swept through the stone room.
Yan Qingshan felt refreshed and in an exceptionally good state.
After stretching his muscles, he turned his attention back to the stone table.
On the table, the other two stone boxes lay open, their multi-colored and pitch-black scrolls waiting for their new master.
“Beep…
New knowledge detected.
Recording and analysis beginning…
Creating a folder…
Seven-Colored Poison Scripture.”
The first thing Yan Qingshan picked up was the multi-colored scroll of the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture.
The master of this chamber was likely a Physician or a Poison Master.
Furthermore, someone who could leave behind a High Xuan Class Qi Method and create a High Xuan Class Flight Dou Technique was likely a Dou Huang-level powerhouse.
The Seven-Colored Poison Scripture recorded the medical and poisonous knowledge of this suspected Dou Huang.
The knowledge and inheritance left by a Dou Huang were incredibly precious treasures within the Jia Ma Empire.
After recording the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture, Yan Qingshan carefully placed it and the Lion Heart King Qi Method into his storage ring.
This lowest-level storage ring had cost him several thousand gold coins, which had pained him deeply at the time, but without it, how could he carry away this treasure?
After the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture, Yan Qingshan finally picked up the pitch-black Flight Dou Technique scroll—the High Xuan Class Flight Dou Technique: Eagle Wings.
Flight Dou Techniques are the rarest type of auxiliary Dou Technique on the continent.
Rather than calling it a technique, it is more like a refined pair of wings that allows one to fly in the sky—something normally only possible for those at the Dou Ling level and above.
On the Dou Qi Continent, once one reaches the Dou Ling level, they can barely manage to glide or hover for short distances.
True flight is only possible once one reaches the Dou Wang level, where they can manifest energy wings from their Dou Qi, allowing them to travel through the sky without being restricted by terrain.
A Dou Wang can fly by manifesting wings, but this Flight Dou Technique allows those below the Dou Wang level to enjoy the same advantage.
(End of Chapter)